How to Make the Best Natural Elderberry Syrup

Elderberries, Antioxidants, and Free Radicals

Have you been hearing your friends talk about Elderberry Syrup? Elderberry Syrup has been all the rage lately and there’s many reasons why!

Many of my like-minded, natural living friends have been sharing their love for Elderberry Syrup on social media for a few years now. When winter finally hit, I knew it was time to make my first batch. It was much easier than I thought!

Before I got started whipping up my first homemade batch of Elderberry Syrup, I did some research to find out the scoop on Elderberries. 

Proposed benefits of Elderberries according to this study include:

• Source of phenolic acids: Powerful antioxidants that can help reduce damage from oxidative stress in the body
• Source of flavonols: Elderberry contains the antioxidant flavonols quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin
• High vitamin C content: There are 6–35 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams of fruit
• High in dietary fiber: Elderberries contain 7 grams of fiber per 100 grams of fresh berries
• Contains anthocyanins: Strong antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects 

What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are known to do a lot of good things for our body, such as support our immune system. They are essential to our body working properly and maintaining homeostasis.

​One of the most important things that antioxidants are known for is the ability to provide protection from damage caused by free radicals. Antioxidants prevent the oxidation of these free radicals which ultimately is what results in cellular damage.

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Free Radicals

Free radicals are unpaired oxygen intermediates, so they are molecules that may cause damage in our body because they are stealing electrons through oxidation.

Free radicals are naturally produced in our body during several metabolic processes but also can be caused by exposure to external sources such as the cigarette smoke, environmental pollutants, radiation, pesticides, certain drugs, industrial solvents, ozone, and even high sugar diets. When it comes to neutralizing these molecules, antioxidants play an important role. ​

Yes, our body does also produce free radicals internally via in the mitochondria, during inflammation and phagocytosis, via the arachidonate pathways, during ischemia or reperfusion injury, and even during exercise (this is NOT a reason to avoid exercise).
​During exercise, our body does undergo a form of oxidative stress. The benefits of exercise are entirely worth this mild drawback in our opinion! Ask your physician about this if you are uncertain!

For those wanting to hedge against any small amount of free radical production during exercise, consider the importance of supplementing with antioxidants for those that are physically active. 

Despite the endogenous sources of free radical and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, it is imperative to return our attention to the external (or exogenous) sources. Please consider that traditional commercial household cleaning products, personal care products, pollutions, pesticides, and a high sugar diet chock-full of artificial flavorings, refined oils and refined carbs all substantially increase our burden of oxidative stress in the body. ​

A prime example of how to quickly increase free radical production secondary to increased oxidative stress via a high-sugar, refined-oil donut!

My Journey

As I approached my mid-20's I slowly learned about how much responsibility I had to gradually teach myself about how to live healthfully. You see, most products out there that are convenient and thereby potentially very toxic. Fast food restaurants specialize in high carbohydrates and loads of refined vegetable oils which are nearly certain to lead to inflammatory events and potentially heart disease. Store-bought hand soaps and household cleaners are known to be a potent source of fragrance which is increasingly known for numerous potential adverse health risks. 

The knowledge about chemicals hiding in our home for 25 years drove my passion for pursuing wellness in a different light and encouraged me to change my lifestyle with longevity in mind. It also became my mission to help educate friends and family members about methods to holistic health and wellness.

I believe in incorporating other healthy lifestyle habits such as exercising, getting quality sleep, balancing stress, and supporting my body with the characteristics of essential oils.

We also can allow our body to be equipped with antioxidants to serve as an efficient defense system to prevent damage done by free radicals.

Aside from my natural sources of vitamins and antioxidants-primarily via fruits and veggies- I find it important to supplement with Elderberry to supplement my efforts.

Elderberries are a rich source of vitamin A, B, and C. I have found it easier (and quite delicious) to make a rich elderberry syrup.


Homemade Elderberry Syrup

It can be used in a variety of ways. Personally, I like to add it to my morning Ningxia shot. It has also found its' way into my yogurt or oatmeal. I even find that I like to take it as a shot on its' own with some Vitality essential oils mixed in.

Here are the Vitality Oils I add to my Elderberry Syrup:

• Cinnamon vitality- Promotes a healthy immune response*, culinary spice that has been used for thousands of years, Includes the naturally occurring constituent cinnamaldehyde
• Clove vitality - Promotes a healthy immune response*, Includes the naturally occurring constituent eugenol
• ​Ginger & Nutmeg vitality- Ginger may calm occasional nausea* and support a healthy lifestyle regimen. Nutmeg may support cognitive function, immune support, and promotes antioxidants.*
• Frankincense & Lemon vitality- may support healthy immune system function*.

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Here are the other ingredients that I used for my Elderberry Syrup:

• ⅔ cup Dried Organic Elderberries
• 3 1/2 cups of water (we use gravity-fed water for most recipes and diffuser blends)
• 1 cup of raw honey

And without further ado, here are the instructions for making the Elderberry Syrup:

1. Pour water into a saucepan and then add elderberries.
2. Bring the elderberries to a boil, cover and reduce to simmer for about 45 minutes. Allow the liquid to reduce to about half and then at that point, remove them from the heat.
3. Let them cool to lukewarm, so that you are able to handle the mixture. Begin to mash the elderberries carefully using a spoon or flat utensil, then pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.​
4. When the elderberry liquid is no longer hot, add the raw honey, and desired drops of Vitality essential oils. 

• I choose about four different Young Living Vitality Essential Oils and added 2 drops of each essential oil making a total of about 8 drops. You can also discard the elderberries that have been separated from the liquid. 

The elderberry syrup should be stored in an airtight container in fridge, I put mine in an 8 ounce mason jar and it’s good for about two months. I hope you enjoy the recipe, please be sure to share how your recipe went below! 

Related Essentially Well Posts:

• Top 10 Ways to Use Essential Oils During the School Year
• What is Thieves Essential Oil?
• Are Candles a Health Risk? Absolutely. Here is How to Fix It.

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Please feel free to comment and let us know how you enjoy Elderberry Syrup in your home to help our community!

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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Young Living products are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. Please see our disclaimer.